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Allen Jackson Ministries

Allen Jackson - Trying Not To Notice (Part 1)

October 16, 2025 | 28:35

Allen Jackson - Trying Not To Notice (Part 1)
Pastor Allen Jackson's mission is to help people become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
#Repentance #Believe #Gospel #HandofGod #Revival #News #Tragedy #Martyrs #Faith #Culture #Complacency #Persecution #Fear #Calling #Purpose

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Allen Jackson Ministries | Allen Jackson - Trying Not To Notice (Part 1) | October 16, 2025
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  • ♪♪♪
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  • Allen jackson: you know, we're witnessing something of a
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  • Crisis in our nation, something i never thought i would see:
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  • Expressions of antisemitism, hatred for the jewish people
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  • Coming from america, coming from the christian community,
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  • The conservative side of the ideological spectrum to a degree
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  • And scope i've never seen before.
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  • Well, it's important enough that i stopped and put
  • 00:00:24.406 --> 00:00:26.208
  • Together a book.
  • 00:00:26.208 --> 00:00:27.543
  • The title of it is "supporting israel: how far is too far?"
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  • It's an important concept.
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  • It isn't political.
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  • It's grounded in a biblical worldview.
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  • I think we need to understand our responsibilities to the
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  • Jewish people, to the modern state of israel,
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  • Not from an ideological perspective,
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  • Not from the perspective of nation states,
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  • But as people of god.
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  • It's important, it's an important season.
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  • A lot of voices--you know, i know there's some fatigue with
  • 00:00:49.298 --> 00:00:52.034
  • The conflict in the middle east, but we can't afford to
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  • Be fatigued with our assignments to honor god and the
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  • Responsibilities that come with that.
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  • I believe the book will be a help to you.
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  • I believe it'll help you navigate the conversation with
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  • Your family and your friends.
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  • Enjoy the read.
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  • Cc by aberdeen captioning 1-800-688-6621 www.aberdeen.io
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  • Allen: the title of the message is "trying not to notice."
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  • You ever been in a circumstance where there was something
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  • Happening around you and you're trying hard not to notice?
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  • You know, it's like just don't look, don't acknowledge it,
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  • Don't say anything.
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  • If i ignore it, maybe it will go away.
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  • Sometimes you do that if you're on a flight and there's some
  • 00:01:32.407 --> 00:01:34.343
  • Craziness going on and you think, "i'm just not
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  • Gonna look."
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  • I've got a friend in the church.
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  • We used to--at christmas time we used to go to the mall and wrap
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  • Packages free of charge for anybody in the mall.
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  • We wrap thousands and thousands and thousands.
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  • I even learned to wrap packages.
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  • But one of the men that's in the church now said he was in the
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  • Wall with his wife and he saw the booth and he said,
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  • "just don't look at him.
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  • Whatever you do, don't make eye contact.
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  • Just try not to notice."
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  • It's been a bit, but early one morning, still dark outside, i
  • 00:02:01.837 --> 00:02:07.276
  • Was awake and i heard something in the attic.
  • 00:02:07.276 --> 00:02:10.612
  • And we have squirrels in the yard, so i assumed that one had
  • 00:02:10.612 --> 00:02:13.849
  • Found its way into the house and
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  • I was laying there praying, "god, don't let kathy notice."
  • 00:02:15.884 --> 00:02:21.557
  • But i just thought it would make life better for everybody if i
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  • Could deal with that issue without it coming to anybody.
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  • She was asleep and so i just, i wasn't moving.
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  • I was trying not to breathe.
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  • You know, i just was--help her not to notice, and she's got,
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  • Like, another sense.
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  • And in a minute, as she stirred, she said, "what's that noise?"
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  • I said, "ah, it's just a squirrel in the attic.
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  • Don't worry about it, go back to sleep."
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  • She was groggy enough, she accepted that.
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  • And i went three or four minutes later, there was an expression
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  • In the attic and our visitor sprayed.
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  • And i didn't wait for anybody to say anything.
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  • I said, "i lied a minute ago.
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  • That was not a squirrel."
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  • And it had reached a point where you could no longer try not
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  • To notice.
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  • It's not relevant to the sermon, it's kind of fun.
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  • We just thought, "hey, what can you do?"
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  • So, it was early, 4:30 or 5 o'clock.
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  • So we got up, decided we'd go to waffle house because the pecan
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  • Waffle makes most things better.
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  • And we went and we can--we got in the car.
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  • Our car smelled like a skunk, at which point kathy realized we've
  • 00:03:40.435 --> 00:03:44.339
  • Been sitting in waffle house smelling like a skunk with all
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  • Those people.
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  • But trying not to notice is a pretty normal response.
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  • If something's going on in your world or around you and you
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  • Preferred it wasn't going on, maybe if you don't notice, it'll
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  • Just go away and i can be unscathed.
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  • Well, it seems to me that right now there's a pretty healthy
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  • Dose of that going on in our country.
  • 00:04:04.826 --> 00:04:09.231
  • There's some pretty widely varied responses to charlie
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  • Kirk's assassination.
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  • My opinion, i shared it with you.
  • 00:04:14.569 --> 00:04:15.904
  • He was a christian martyr in america in 2025.
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  • That's a really difficult sentence to say.
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  • It's uncomfortable on many levels.
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  • We have--many have mourned, we have seen that, in some very
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  • Remarkable ways.
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  • We've seen jesus's name exalted with a clarity candidly that i
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  • Don't think we have seen in a long, long, long time.
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  • There have been other groups at the recognition of what happened
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  • Who celebrated and mocked.
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  • And then there's a whole other group, and it may be the largest
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  • Segment honestly, i think, who are trying very carefully just
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  • Not to notice.
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  • Not sure what to say, not sure they know what to say, not sure
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  • They want to say anything, not sure which way the
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  • Wind's blowing.
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  • So, if they just don't notice, we'll move.
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  • The new cycle changes so rapidly, we'll get past this.
  • 00:05:02.784 --> 00:05:06.555
  • And tragically, i think some of those voices are coming--those
  • 00:05:06.555 --> 00:05:10.525
  • Attempts to not notice are coming from the church.
  • 00:05:10.525 --> 00:05:13.595
  • You know, the voices speaking in celebration of charlie's life
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  • For the most part have told of the redemptive work of jesus,
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  • Which i think is really good.
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  • But i read a lot of the church literature and a lot of things
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  • That, you know, have been at the center of the messages coming
  • 00:05:23.905 --> 00:05:26.975
  • From us not just recently, but for quite a season now.
  • 00:05:26.975 --> 00:05:29.878
  • You know, the messaging we've heard far--from far too many
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  • Christ followers for years has been focused on things like
  • 00:05:32.914 --> 00:05:35.517
  • Tolerance and understanding and inclusivity and expressions of
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  • Mercy so that they were--it was very refreshing to hear people
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  • Standing in the public square talking about our need for
  • 00:05:43.091 --> 00:05:45.293
  • Repentance and the redemptive work of jesus and why the blood
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  • Of jesus changes our lives.
  • 00:05:48.864 --> 00:05:51.266
  • You know, jesus's invitation to the gospel began with repent
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  • And believe.
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  • If we leave repentance out of the invitation, we allow people
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  • To imagine they're pretty good already and jesus just kind of
  • 00:06:00.609 --> 00:06:03.078
  • Puts you over the top, which is not the gospel at all.
  • 00:06:03.078 --> 00:06:08.583
  • And it's been a refreshing time in many ways.
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  • As much as it's been tragic and heartbreaking, we've heard the
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  • Gospel told with the clarity that hasn't come with the
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  • Frequency it should be coming from our churches.
  • 00:06:19.895 --> 00:06:22.063
  • It's coming from unexpected sources, which sounds a lot like
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  • When god moves.
  • 00:06:25.167 --> 00:06:26.968
  • Awakenings, renewals, whatever label you prefer for those times
  • 00:06:26.968 --> 00:06:30.138
  • Throughout history when god's spirit tends
  • 00:06:30.138 --> 00:06:32.240
  • To move across populations, it's most common that it
  • 00:06:32.240 --> 00:06:35.677
  • Doesn't begin from the organized expressions of faith.
  • 00:06:35.677 --> 00:06:39.281
  • Jesus himself wasn't welcomed into the midst of the halls of
  • 00:06:39.281 --> 00:06:42.884
  • Power of the religious thinkers, of the scholars, of the temple
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  • Directors, or the synagogue rulers.
  • 00:06:46.354 --> 00:06:48.523
  • Those were his primary opponents.
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  • And i believe that will be true at this point in history as we
  • 00:06:51.293 --> 00:06:54.496
  • See god continue to move.
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  • We're gonna have to be able to see truth in new ways,
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  • Understand perspectives with the freshness that has not defined
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  • Our journey up to this point.
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  • You know, honestly, i think we have to move forward.
  • 00:07:06.141 --> 00:07:10.011
  • Charlie's death was more personal.
  • 00:07:10.011 --> 00:07:13.548
  • He was to be--have been here with us last week.
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  • I've shared the platform with him.
  • 00:07:16.117 --> 00:07:17.452
  • We weren't--i didn't vacation with he and erika.
  • 00:07:17.452 --> 00:07:19.654
  • I mean, we--i wasn't a part of that inner circle, but we've
  • 00:07:19.654 --> 00:07:22.991
  • Shared platforms and then programs together and made some
  • 00:07:22.991 --> 00:07:25.393
  • Plans together and done some things, enough that it felt
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  • Personal to me.
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  • It wasn't just another part of the news cycle, it wasn't just
  • 00:07:29.531 --> 00:07:32.234
  • Another tragedy that we worked through.
  • 00:07:32.234 --> 00:07:34.903
  • They would have been here with us last week and that made it
  • 00:07:34.903 --> 00:07:38.139
  • Personal, made it personal for everybody that came in for the
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  • Conference last week.
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  • I didn't think they were all coming to see me.
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  • But i'm quite confident that if charlie could step in today,
  • 00:07:46.281 --> 00:07:49.184
  • He'd say, "you know, we've got a job to do."
  • 00:07:49.184 --> 00:07:52.687
  • And there's a time to mourn and then there's a time to go
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  • Forward, and we don't wanna forget, we don't wanna leave him
  • 00:07:55.156 --> 00:07:57.359
  • Behind, but there have been multiplied thousands of young
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  • Lives and hearts open to the gospel through the efforts of
  • 00:08:01.196 --> 00:08:03.598
  • Turning point and those on the team, and they're busy making
  • 00:08:03.598 --> 00:08:06.835
  • Plans for what next looks like and we have to join them
  • 00:08:06.835 --> 00:08:09.037
  • In that.
  • 00:08:09.037 --> 00:08:10.939
  • And i intend to make it uncomfortable for those who are
  • 00:08:10.939 --> 00:08:13.508
  • Trying not to notice because what happened to charlie wasn't
  • 00:08:13.508 --> 00:08:17.946
  • Some aberration, it wasn't something appeared out of
  • 00:08:17.946 --> 00:08:21.650
  • New cloth.
  • 00:08:21.650 --> 00:08:23.818
  • Our faith is being--been pushed from the public square for a
  • 00:08:23.818 --> 00:08:26.755
  • Long time.
  • 00:08:26.755 --> 00:08:28.256
  • It hasn't been welcome in the corporate boardroom, it hasn't
  • 00:08:28.256 --> 00:08:30.892
  • Been welcomed in the higher echelons of academia.
  • 00:08:30.892 --> 00:08:34.029
  • Most of our christian schools have stepped away from orthodoxy
  • 00:08:34.029 --> 00:08:36.665
  • Or many of our christian schools have stepped away
  • 00:08:36.665 --> 00:08:38.466
  • From orthodoxy.
  • 00:08:38.466 --> 00:08:40.001
  • The biblical studies departments in christian universities
  • 00:08:40.001 --> 00:08:43.872
  • Oftentimes don't believe in the authority of scripture or the
  • 00:08:43.872 --> 00:08:46.575
  • Uniqueness of jesus's redemptive work.
  • 00:08:46.575 --> 00:08:49.778
  • Our military has done a--i mean, great--i'm grateful that some of
  • 00:08:49.778 --> 00:08:53.782
  • That is changing, but for quite a season now, they've been
  • 00:08:53.782 --> 00:08:56.751
  • Minimizing the influence of christianity amongst those who
  • 00:08:56.751 --> 00:08:59.387
  • Defend us.
  • 00:08:59.387 --> 00:09:01.022
  • I mean, there are multiple expressions of this.
  • 00:09:01.022 --> 00:09:03.058
  • We shouldn't act surprised.
  • 00:09:03.058 --> 00:09:04.426
  • We may have been trying not to notice.
  • 00:09:04.426 --> 00:09:06.795
  • There's a lot of voices saying, "you know, don't talk about
  • 00:09:06.795 --> 00:09:08.863
  • Current culture, you're being political."
  • 00:09:08.863 --> 00:09:10.332
  • I'm not being political.
  • 00:09:10.332 --> 00:09:11.666
  • Marriage between a man and a woman isn't a political issue,
  • 00:09:11.666 --> 00:09:13.635
  • It's a biblical issue.
  • 00:09:13.635 --> 00:09:15.770
  • Human sexuality and what the bible defines as moral and
  • 00:09:15.770 --> 00:09:18.473
  • Immoral isn't a political issue, it's a biblical issue.
  • 00:09:18.473 --> 00:09:22.944
  • And we have been avoiding this.
  • 00:09:22.944 --> 00:09:24.646
  • We've been trying not to notice, desperately.
  • 00:09:24.646 --> 00:09:29.050
  • And the reason we were trying not to notice is we understood
  • 00:09:29.050 --> 00:09:32.053
  • There was a consequence, we understood there was pushback,
  • 00:09:32.053 --> 00:09:36.324
  • We knew you could get canceled or worse.
  • 00:09:36.324 --> 00:09:39.594
  • We knew you could be ridiculed, we knew it could impact your
  • 00:09:39.594 --> 00:09:42.230
  • Professional life, we knew people might not stay in your
  • 00:09:42.230 --> 00:09:45.667
  • Congregation if you brought these things up.
  • 00:09:45.667 --> 00:09:49.237
  • We understand that.
  • 00:09:49.237 --> 00:09:50.905
  • If you've been paying any attention whatsoever, what
  • 00:09:50.905 --> 00:09:52.974
  • Happened to charlie was heartbreaking, but it was
  • 00:09:52.974 --> 00:09:57.178
  • Consistent with what we've been watching emerge for quite
  • 00:09:57.178 --> 00:09:59.447
  • A while.
  • 00:09:59.447 --> 00:10:01.016
  • That's why i've been saying to you, if we don't respond with a
  • 00:10:01.016 --> 00:10:03.585
  • Physical presence in places of worship, if we're not more
  • 00:10:03.585 --> 00:10:06.821
  • Visible, saying, "we will stand up for our faith," with a
  • 00:10:06.821 --> 00:10:10.392
  • Boldness and a determination greater than we have been in the
  • 00:10:10.392 --> 00:10:13.228
  • Past, they will keep hunting.
  • 00:10:13.228 --> 00:10:17.265
  • They're waiting to see our responses.
  • 00:10:17.265 --> 00:10:20.568
  • We have to move forward.
  • 00:10:20.568 --> 00:10:24.539
  • We still have an assignment.
  • 00:10:24.539 --> 00:10:28.743
  • Allen: you know, how should we respond to the nation of
  • 00:10:32.914 --> 00:10:34.883
  • Israel and the jewish people?
  • 00:10:34.883 --> 00:10:36.951
  • It's a complex question in today's world.
  • 00:10:36.951 --> 00:10:39.220
  • Well, i've written a book, "supporting israel:
  • 00:10:39.220 --> 00:10:41.189
  • How far is too far?"
  • 00:10:41.189 --> 00:10:43.124
  • To help us establish a biblical perspective on what has become a
  • 00:10:43.124 --> 00:10:46.961
  • Complex question in contemporary culture.
  • 00:10:46.961 --> 00:10:50.298
  • We don't want to follow the guidance and the counsel of some
  • 00:10:50.298 --> 00:10:53.268
  • Of the elite universities in this nation.
  • 00:10:53.268 --> 00:10:55.737
  • We want to form a perspective that's built from god's word.
  • 00:10:55.737 --> 00:10:58.473
  • If we'll do that, it'll bring his blessings to our lives.
  • 00:10:58.473 --> 00:11:01.509
  • Enjoy the book.
  • 00:11:01.509 --> 00:11:02.844
  • Female announcer: from the pages of scripture to the front
  • 00:11:02.844 --> 00:11:04.913
  • Lines of today's news, israel stands at the center
  • 00:11:04.913 --> 00:11:07.916
  • Of god's purposes.
  • 00:11:07.916 --> 00:11:09.451
  • Pastor allen's new booklet, "supporting israel:
  • 00:11:09.451 --> 00:11:12.420
  • How far is too far?"
  • 00:11:12.420 --> 00:11:13.855
  • Offers a quick way to gain a biblical perspective on israel,
  • 00:11:13.855 --> 00:11:17.325
  • Why israel matters to god, and why it should matter to us.
  • 00:11:17.325 --> 00:11:21.763
  • Request your copy with your gift of any amount today at
  • 00:11:21.763 --> 00:11:24.666
  • Allenjackson.com or by calling...
  • 00:11:24.666 --> 00:11:30.705
  • Allen: well, i want to use the book of acts to kind of give us
  • 00:11:33.208 --> 00:11:35.210
  • A roadmap.
  • 00:11:35.210 --> 00:11:36.544
  • In the book of acts, we have jesus's closest friends.
  • 00:11:36.544 --> 00:11:39.013
  • And up until acts chapter 2, you'd have to say jesus
  • 00:11:39.013 --> 00:11:41.983
  • Recruited from the slow group.
  • 00:11:41.983 --> 00:11:44.786
  • They had a hard time keeping up.
  • 00:11:44.786 --> 00:11:47.455
  • On more than one occasion, jesus would look at peter and james
  • 00:11:47.455 --> 00:11:50.024
  • And john and the crowd, and he would go, "are you really
  • 00:11:50.024 --> 00:11:51.826
  • That dull?"
  • 00:11:51.826 --> 00:11:54.028
  • That's awkward, when the creator of all things looks at you and
  • 00:11:54.028 --> 00:11:56.698
  • Go, "you know, you're a little slow."
  • 00:11:56.698 --> 00:12:00.502
  • And at the point where he needed their support the most,
  • 00:12:00.502 --> 00:12:02.504
  • They weren't available.
  • 00:12:02.504 --> 00:12:03.838
  • He wasn't surprised.
  • 00:12:03.838 --> 00:12:05.173
  • He had forewarned them, but they couldn't process it.
  • 00:12:05.173 --> 00:12:07.075
  • We gleaned from that not that they were really somehow
  • 00:12:07.075 --> 00:12:09.444
  • Incomplete or inadequate, but that following the lord is
  • 00:12:09.444 --> 00:12:11.980
  • Not easy.
  • 00:12:11.980 --> 00:12:14.115
  • I hope you've processed that.
  • 00:12:14.115 --> 00:12:16.684
  • Understanding, learning to cooperate with god, to recognize
  • 00:12:16.684 --> 00:12:20.054
  • What god is doing, to say yes to his invitations is not simple.
  • 00:12:20.054 --> 00:12:24.025
  • The disciples through the gospels, they had said
  • 00:12:24.025 --> 00:12:26.327
  • Yes to jesus.
  • 00:12:26.327 --> 00:12:27.695
  • They left their nets and followed him.
  • 00:12:27.695 --> 00:12:29.030
  • They left their businesses and followed him.
  • 00:12:29.030 --> 00:12:30.732
  • They were identified in public and followed him.
  • 00:12:30.732 --> 00:12:32.767
  • They've done all those things that you and i associate with
  • 00:12:32.767 --> 00:12:34.836
  • Kind of good christ followers.
  • 00:12:34.836 --> 00:12:36.638
  • They kind of raised their hand and go, "yeah, i'm up for some
  • 00:12:36.638 --> 00:12:38.473
  • Of this."
  • 00:12:38.473 --> 00:12:39.908
  • But time and time again, they would deteriorate into selfish
  • 00:12:39.908 --> 00:12:43.478
  • Debates about who was the greatest.
  • 00:12:43.478 --> 00:12:46.514
  • They would argue about who was gonna get the best opportunities
  • 00:12:46.514 --> 00:12:48.950
  • In eternity.
  • 00:12:48.950 --> 00:12:51.252
  • I mean, they acted a lot like us.
  • 00:12:51.252 --> 00:12:53.988
  • Jesus would give them a comment and they would completely
  • 00:12:53.988 --> 00:12:56.057
  • Misunderstand it and it would deteriorate into a fight
  • 00:12:56.057 --> 00:12:58.593
  • Amongst themselves.
  • 00:12:58.593 --> 00:13:01.129
  • You see, the initial decision, a singular decision, wasn't
  • 00:13:01.129 --> 00:13:03.832
  • Sufficient for them to continue to grow and learn and mature and
  • 00:13:03.832 --> 00:13:07.202
  • Become what god had for them.
  • 00:13:07.202 --> 00:13:10.305
  • We've talked about that a lot.
  • 00:13:10.305 --> 00:13:11.673
  • We can't stop with conversion, we can't stop with the
  • 00:13:11.673 --> 00:13:13.808
  • New birth.
  • 00:13:13.808 --> 00:13:15.143
  • I believe in it, it's essential nature, but it's not the finish
  • 00:13:15.143 --> 00:13:17.712
  • Line, it's the starting gate.
  • 00:13:17.712 --> 00:13:21.716
  • We get to the book of acts and jesus says, "i'm leaving, you
  • 00:13:21.716 --> 00:13:24.686
  • Can't go with me.
  • 00:13:24.686 --> 00:13:27.355
  • But if you'll wait, i will send you another counselor,
  • 00:13:27.355 --> 00:13:30.091
  • Another comforter."
  • 00:13:30.091 --> 00:13:31.459
  • In acts chapter 2, the holy spirit's poured out and it's
  • 00:13:31.459 --> 00:13:33.461
  • Game on.
  • 00:13:33.461 --> 00:13:35.430
  • And through the book of acts, we can follow these same people
  • 00:13:35.430 --> 00:13:38.333
  • That have been the keystone cops, except now they're at the
  • 00:13:38.333 --> 00:13:41.536
  • Forefront of the jesus initiative.
  • 00:13:41.536 --> 00:13:44.505
  • And they're very much trying to figure it out, and i think
  • 00:13:44.505 --> 00:13:47.775
  • There's some significant parallels with the world in
  • 00:13:47.775 --> 00:13:50.278
  • Which we're living.
  • 00:13:50.278 --> 00:13:52.213
  • God is moving in the earth.
  • 00:13:52.213 --> 00:13:54.349
  • I have no doubt that he's pouring his spirit out in some
  • 00:13:54.349 --> 00:13:56.784
  • Ways that we have not seen in my lifetime.
  • 00:13:56.784 --> 00:13:59.787
  • I believe that, i believe there are greater opportunities for
  • 00:13:59.787 --> 00:14:01.956
  • The kingdom of god than we've ever witnessed.
  • 00:14:01.956 --> 00:14:04.659
  • And i also believe we're facing those in a season when there's
  • 00:14:04.659 --> 00:14:08.196
  • Greater opposition than i have ever experienced.
  • 00:14:08.196 --> 00:14:11.599
  • I wasn't prepared for that.
  • 00:14:11.599 --> 00:14:12.934
  • I mean, i kind of knew the biblical precept, but when
  • 00:14:12.934 --> 00:14:14.636
  • You're living in it, it's different altogether.
  • 00:14:14.636 --> 00:14:17.639
  • It's like reading a book about exercise or exercising.
  • 00:14:17.639 --> 00:14:22.377
  • Do you ever read a diet book and think, "oh, i would love to do
  • 00:14:22.377 --> 00:14:24.846
  • That," and then you start it and you're like, "no, this isn't any
  • 00:14:24.846 --> 00:14:28.950
  • Fun at all"?
  • 00:14:28.950 --> 00:14:31.619
  • Well, in acts chapter 5, we're gonna step into the narrative.
  • 00:14:31.619 --> 00:14:35.156
  • Peter and john have been arrested, really, because of a
  • 00:14:35.156 --> 00:14:38.927
  • Miracle that was done.
  • 00:14:38.927 --> 00:14:41.195
  • A man with some physical challenges was healed and he was
  • 00:14:41.195 --> 00:14:46.067
  • Recognized in the broadly in--on the temple and then in jerusalem
  • 00:14:46.067 --> 00:14:49.470
  • As someone who had been healed.
  • 00:14:49.470 --> 00:14:51.506
  • And peter and john are very direct in saying that he was
  • 00:14:51.506 --> 00:14:53.775
  • Healed in the name of jesus, whom the leadership in the city
  • 00:14:53.775 --> 00:14:57.645
  • Had crucified.
  • 00:14:57.645 --> 00:14:59.013
  • They crucified the messiah.
  • 00:14:59.013 --> 00:15:00.348
  • I mean, they pushed all this into the public square.
  • 00:15:00.348 --> 00:15:01.983
  • It wasn't conciliatory, it wasn't kind.
  • 00:15:01.983 --> 00:15:05.553
  • It was very much finger-pointing.
  • 00:15:05.553 --> 00:15:07.855
  • It was accusatory.
  • 00:15:07.855 --> 00:15:10.291
  • It's not the tone of the message that we've been coached towards
  • 00:15:10.291 --> 00:15:12.894
  • For a long, long time.
  • 00:15:12.894 --> 00:15:14.829
  • "you killed your messiah."
  • 00:15:14.829 --> 00:15:17.565
  • So, not surprisingly, the group is angry at them and someone
  • 00:15:17.565 --> 00:15:22.170
  • Amongst the sanhedrin intervenes on their behalf, gamaliel.
  • 00:15:22.170 --> 00:15:25.106
  • That's where we step in. it's acts 5:40.
  • 00:15:25.106 --> 00:15:26.641
  • He said, "his speech persuaded them.
  • 00:15:26.641 --> 00:15:28.409
  • And they called the apostles in and they had them flogged."
  • 00:15:28.409 --> 00:15:31.846
  • That's an old english word.
  • 00:15:31.846 --> 00:15:33.181
  • It sounds kind of like they went for a walk or they had some kind
  • 00:15:33.181 --> 00:15:37.885
  • Of a hot beverage.
  • 00:15:37.885 --> 00:15:40.088
  • You know, they got eggnoged.
  • 00:15:40.088 --> 00:15:42.957
  • No, they were beaten, most likely with a roman whip that
  • 00:15:42.957 --> 00:15:48.463
  • Was a cruel, brutal--
  • 00:15:48.463 --> 00:15:51.399
  • Their backs are laid open.
  • 00:15:51.399 --> 00:15:52.767
  • "and then they ordered them not to speak in the name of jesus,
  • 00:15:52.767 --> 00:15:54.969
  • And they let them go."
  • 00:15:54.969 --> 00:15:57.405
  • Verse 41 says, "the apostles left the sanhedrin," now this is
  • 00:15:57.405 --> 00:16:00.408
  • The same group that orchestrated jesus's execution.
  • 00:16:00.408 --> 00:16:02.543
  • They've got the power to do some real damage.
  • 00:16:02.543 --> 00:16:05.480
  • "the apostles left the sanhedrin, rejoicing because
  • 00:16:05.480 --> 00:16:08.149
  • They had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the name.
  • 00:16:08.149 --> 00:16:13.621
  • And day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house,
  • 00:16:13.621 --> 00:16:16.457
  • They never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that
  • 00:16:16.457 --> 00:16:19.660
  • Jesus is the messiah."
  • 00:16:19.660 --> 00:16:22.363
  • Verse 41 to me is kind of the pivot.
  • 00:16:22.363 --> 00:16:24.265
  • It's the change of attitude that has emerged post the day
  • 00:16:24.265 --> 00:16:27.635
  • Of pentecost, that jesus is gone.
  • 00:16:27.635 --> 00:16:31.139
  • I mean, he'll step back in from time to time, but he's not
  • 00:16:31.139 --> 00:16:33.608
  • Physically present with them on a daily basis.
  • 00:16:33.608 --> 00:16:36.544
  • And they've been beaten, they've been threatened, they've been
  • 00:16:36.544 --> 00:16:39.080
  • Told to never speak in the name of jesus again.
  • 00:16:39.080 --> 00:16:41.282
  • In fact, by this point, they've been arrested multiple times.
  • 00:16:41.282 --> 00:16:45.420
  • This is the first time physical violence has been used
  • 00:16:45.420 --> 00:16:47.722
  • Against them.
  • 00:16:47.722 --> 00:16:49.090
  • And it says they left the sanhedrin rejoicing.
  • 00:16:49.090 --> 00:16:53.261
  • You need to circle that word.
  • 00:16:53.261 --> 00:16:54.595
  • What does rejoicing mean?
  • 00:16:54.595 --> 00:17:00.201
  • They didn't leave praying, they didn't leave gratified, they
  • 00:17:00.201 --> 00:17:08.976
  • Didn't leave complaining.
  • 00:17:08.976 --> 00:17:12.180
  • They lift--they left, giving expressions of joy with bloody
  • 00:17:12.180 --> 00:17:18.553
  • Backs in physical pain.
  • 00:17:18.553 --> 00:17:23.024
  • They left rejoicing that they had been counted worthy of
  • 00:17:23.024 --> 00:17:29.297
  • Suffering--not just suffering physically,
  • 00:17:29.297 --> 00:17:34.535
  • Of suffering disgrace for the same--for the name of jesus.
  • 00:17:34.535 --> 00:17:39.674
  • The little prefix d-i-s means without.
  • 00:17:39.674 --> 00:17:43.177
  • Disgrace is an--it's an interesting word.
  • 00:17:43.177 --> 00:17:45.379
  • To be disgraced means you have no grace.
  • 00:17:45.379 --> 00:17:47.849
  • Your favor has been removed.
  • 00:17:47.849 --> 00:17:50.885
  • You're disgraceful.
  • 00:17:50.885 --> 00:17:53.054
  • They didn't just suffer physically, they've been
  • 00:17:53.054 --> 00:17:55.389
  • Disgraced now in the city of jerusalem.
  • 00:17:55.389 --> 00:17:58.259
  • They're persona non grata.
  • 00:17:58.259 --> 00:18:00.394
  • They're not welcome anymore.
  • 00:18:00.394 --> 00:18:02.730
  • They're no longer just that group of uneducated,
  • 00:18:02.730 --> 00:18:05.466
  • Unsophisticated people that hung out with that person
  • 00:18:05.466 --> 00:18:08.136
  • From galilee.
  • 00:18:08.136 --> 00:18:10.872
  • Now they're on public record.
  • 00:18:10.872 --> 00:18:12.306
  • They've been arrested, they've been beaten, they're disgraced.
  • 00:18:12.306 --> 00:18:15.910
  • They're not welcome.
  • 00:18:15.910 --> 00:18:18.479
  • Makes it very difficult.
  • 00:18:18.479 --> 00:18:20.681
  • It changes the nature of your social engagements if you're
  • 00:18:20.681 --> 00:18:23.985
  • Publicly disgraced.
  • 00:18:23.985 --> 00:18:27.188
  • Most of us do everything in our power to avoid that.
  • 00:18:27.188 --> 00:18:31.459
  • Most of us will modify almost everything we believe about
  • 00:18:31.459 --> 00:18:34.862
  • Jesus to keep from being publicly disgraced.
  • 00:18:34.862 --> 00:18:39.734
  • "and they left the sanhedrin," it says, "rejoicing."
  • 00:18:39.734 --> 00:18:45.506
  • Rejoicing, happy.
  • 00:18:45.506 --> 00:18:48.910
  • Now, i don't think they felt happy.
  • 00:18:48.910 --> 00:18:52.747
  • I think they felt pain, i think they felt humiliation, i think
  • 00:18:52.747 --> 00:19:00.154
  • They felt shame to be peaten--to be beaten and
  • 00:19:00.154 --> 00:19:05.293
  • Released in a public way as an enemy of the state.
  • 00:19:05.293 --> 00:19:10.998
  • That's difficult.
  • 00:19:10.998 --> 00:19:13.768
  • They made a choice.
  • 00:19:13.768 --> 00:19:15.102
  • And then the only way i could imagine they arrived at that
  • 00:19:15.102 --> 00:19:17.371
  • Decision was their relationship with jesus, but i think they're
  • 00:19:17.371 --> 00:19:20.174
  • Extending to you and me something of a model.
  • 00:19:20.174 --> 00:19:23.044
  • It says, "day after day in the temple courts, from house to
  • 00:19:23.044 --> 00:19:25.246
  • House, they never stopped."
  • 00:19:25.246 --> 00:19:28.216
  • They never stopped after this.
  • 00:19:28.216 --> 00:19:29.584
  • They said, "we're not stopping."
  • 00:19:29.584 --> 00:19:30.918
  • Day after day, in private and in public, in the temple, in
  • 00:19:30.918 --> 00:19:33.588
  • Public, and you know, in house to house, in private.
  • 00:19:33.588 --> 00:19:37.725
  • They never stopped saying that jesus is the lord, jesus is
  • 00:19:37.725 --> 00:19:41.062
  • The messiah.
  • 00:19:41.062 --> 00:19:43.531
  • So, what i'm gonna suggest to you and me, i think in front of
  • 00:19:43.531 --> 00:19:46.867
  • Us is a season where not everybody is gonna celebrate
  • 00:19:46.867 --> 00:19:49.437
  • Our faith.
  • 00:19:49.437 --> 00:19:51.672
  • Not everybody's gonna have a broken heart because of charlie.
  • 00:19:51.672 --> 00:19:56.811
  • Not everybody's gonna give the right answer.
  • 00:19:56.811 --> 00:19:59.380
  • And the people trying to press forward with it at turning point
  • 00:19:59.380 --> 00:20:01.882
  • Usa, they're probably not gonna get every choice right either.
  • 00:20:01.882 --> 00:20:06.120
  • And people, you're gonna have opportunities to interact and to
  • 00:20:06.120 --> 00:20:08.856
  • Say, "are you gonna try not to notice?"
  • 00:20:08.856 --> 00:20:10.925
  • Or you can say, "no, no, i'm one of those people," and it'll come
  • 00:20:10.925 --> 00:20:15.563
  • With some consequence, it'll come with some pressure, it'll
  • 00:20:15.563 --> 00:20:19.934
  • Come with a little bit of pushback.
  • 00:20:19.934 --> 00:20:23.571
  • Some people might say, "well, you know, i think
  • 00:20:23.571 --> 00:20:24.905
  • That's disgraceful."
  • 00:20:24.905 --> 00:20:27.041
  • And now we got a choice: are we're gonna get angry?
  • 00:20:27.041 --> 00:20:30.244
  • Because it hurts when people respond to me that way.
  • 00:20:30.244 --> 00:20:33.814
  • Most of us haven't approached the place yet where there's
  • 00:20:33.814 --> 00:20:35.983
  • Actually physical punishment, physical suffering for
  • 00:20:35.983 --> 00:20:38.519
  • Our faith.
  • 00:20:38.519 --> 00:20:39.887
  • If we stay on this track and there's not a change, it's in
  • 00:20:39.887 --> 00:20:42.290
  • Our future.
  • 00:20:42.290 --> 00:20:45.092
  • But at the moment, it's mostly more social.
  • 00:20:45.092 --> 00:20:48.729
  • You're ostracized from communities.
  • 00:20:48.729 --> 00:20:50.498
  • You'll forfeit some business opportunities.
  • 00:20:50.498 --> 00:20:51.999
  • They won't want you in academic settings.
  • 00:20:51.999 --> 00:20:55.169
  • "you're antiquated, you're backwards, you're not
  • 00:20:55.169 --> 00:20:57.571
  • Forward-thinking, you're not progressive enough in your
  • 00:20:57.571 --> 00:20:59.607
  • Imagination, you're trying to tie us to outdated moral codes
  • 00:20:59.607 --> 00:21:03.144
  • And perspectives.
  • 00:21:03.144 --> 00:21:04.512
  • You're too judgy."
  • 00:21:04.512 --> 00:21:08.683
  • We're gonna have to decide if we're willing to
  • 00:21:08.683 --> 00:21:10.751
  • Suffer disgrace.
  • 00:21:10.751 --> 00:21:12.086
  • We're gonna have grace removed from us so that we can be
  • 00:21:12.086 --> 00:21:14.355
  • Identified fully with jesus.
  • 00:21:14.355 --> 00:21:17.291
  • Well, what emotion do you need?
  • 00:21:17.291 --> 00:21:18.626
  • How do you do that?
  • 00:21:18.626 --> 00:21:19.994
  • How do you galvanize yourself for that?
  • 00:21:19.994 --> 00:21:21.796
  • Well, i believe they showed us: we rejoice.
  • 00:21:21.796 --> 00:21:24.765
  • Not because we feel like it, not because it's pleasant, not
  • 00:21:24.765 --> 00:21:28.803
  • Because we're happy.
  • 00:21:28.803 --> 00:21:30.137
  • I don't think it makes you happy to have your back laid open to
  • 00:21:30.137 --> 00:21:32.673
  • The bone.
  • 00:21:32.673 --> 00:21:34.342
  • If it does, you're messed up, you need help.
  • 00:21:34.342 --> 00:21:38.045
  • I don't think it should make you happy when you realize there's
  • 00:21:38.045 --> 00:21:40.147
  • An economic consequence for being affiliated with jesus.
  • 00:21:40.147 --> 00:21:43.384
  • I don't think it should make you happy when you lose friends and
  • 00:21:43.384 --> 00:21:45.920
  • Relationships and you're left off and excluded and shunned
  • 00:21:45.920 --> 00:21:49.490
  • Because of your advocacy for jesus.
  • 00:21:49.490 --> 00:21:51.859
  • But i think in the midst of those places, you can
  • 00:21:51.859 --> 00:21:54.128
  • Choose joy.
  • 00:21:54.128 --> 00:21:56.597
  • There's a big difference in happiness and joy.
  • 00:21:56.597 --> 00:21:59.233
  • Joy starts--it's centered in our spirit and our
  • 00:21:59.233 --> 00:22:02.002
  • Relationship with god.
  • 00:22:02.002 --> 00:22:03.371
  • I can be joyful in the midst of some very difficult
  • 00:22:03.371 --> 00:22:05.906
  • Circumstances because my joy is anchored to who jesus is and
  • 00:22:05.906 --> 00:22:10.611
  • What he's done for me, not my physical condition, not the
  • 00:22:10.611 --> 00:22:13.781
  • Circumstances around me.
  • 00:22:13.781 --> 00:22:15.116
  • They left the sanhedrin.
  • 00:22:15.116 --> 00:22:16.784
  • That's a very, very threatening setting.
  • 00:22:16.784 --> 00:22:19.353
  • It's fearful.
  • 00:22:19.353 --> 00:22:21.355
  • And they left rejoicing that they've been worthy to
  • 00:22:21.355 --> 00:22:24.725
  • Suffer disgrace.
  • 00:22:24.725 --> 00:22:28.562
  • What if we said, "i wonder if the lord would trust me enough
  • 00:22:28.562 --> 00:22:31.832
  • To be disgraced for his name."
  • 00:22:31.832 --> 00:22:34.668
  • That's a different mindset.
  • 00:22:34.668 --> 00:22:36.036
  • That's a whole change in how we think because most of us have
  • 00:22:36.036 --> 00:22:38.806
  • Been coached up to think, "well, what we want to do is be certain
  • 00:22:38.806 --> 00:22:40.941
  • We're never in a place where we could be disgraced," right?
  • 00:22:40.941 --> 00:22:46.113
  • Tone it down, be quiet.
  • 00:22:46.113 --> 00:22:48.015
  • Now, i don't want you to be obnoxious.
  • 00:22:48.015 --> 00:22:50.217
  • Obnoxious does not make you godly.
  • 00:22:50.217 --> 00:22:53.354
  • You know, we got a whole set of things we think make
  • 00:22:53.354 --> 00:22:54.955
  • Us spiritual: weird-- weird is not spiritual.
  • 00:22:54.955 --> 00:22:56.624
  • We process that quite a bit, right?
  • 00:22:56.624 --> 00:22:58.626
  • Well, obnoxious is not spiritual either.
  • 00:22:58.626 --> 00:23:02.797
  • It's centered in the truth of what the word of god says of who
  • 00:23:02.797 --> 00:23:05.533
  • We are and the values we hold and the one to whom we've given
  • 00:23:05.533 --> 00:23:08.636
  • Our allegiance, and will we turn that down?
  • 00:23:08.636 --> 00:23:10.571
  • Will we mute that?
  • 00:23:10.571 --> 00:23:14.809
  • Do you wanna be a person that god could trust to suffer
  • 00:23:14.809 --> 00:23:18.913
  • Disgrace for the sake of christ?
  • 00:23:18.913 --> 00:23:23.284
  • You don't have to go looking for that.
  • 00:23:23.284 --> 00:23:26.387
  • You don't have to go looking for that.
  • 00:23:26.387 --> 00:23:29.023
  • If you'll begin to choose the truth with integrity and
  • 00:23:29.023 --> 00:23:32.293
  • Consistency and frequency, those opportunities will present
  • 00:23:32.293 --> 00:23:36.430
  • Themselves just like a let's pray moment.
  • 00:23:36.430 --> 00:23:39.366
  • You know, how many of you have ever had a let's pray moment?
  • 00:23:39.366 --> 00:23:41.702
  • You prayed for somebody?
  • 00:23:41.702 --> 00:23:43.571
  • How many of you know you missed one or two of those probably
  • 00:23:43.571 --> 00:23:45.606
  • Before you got to the one you were ready to fire on?
  • 00:23:45.606 --> 00:23:49.443
  • Right, you walked away from him and you go, "oh, i could
  • 00:23:49.443 --> 00:23:51.378
  • Have done that let's pray thing."
  • 00:23:51.378 --> 00:23:55.449
  • I mean, i've prayed with some of you because you were like, "oh,
  • 00:23:55.449 --> 00:23:57.818
  • I should have prayed for somebody."
  • 00:23:57.818 --> 00:23:59.153
  • Like, trust me, there'll be more.
  • 00:23:59.153 --> 00:24:02.590
  • But once you've kind of crossed that experience threshold and it
  • 00:24:02.590 --> 00:24:06.427
  • Becomes a part of your repertoire, then you, like, hear
  • 00:24:06.427 --> 00:24:10.664
  • Them and you go, "oh yeah, let's pray."
  • 00:24:10.664 --> 00:24:13.334
  • You'll have similar experiences to be an ambassador for jesus.
  • 00:24:13.334 --> 00:24:19.240
  • And we've been passing on them because we didn't want
  • 00:24:19.240 --> 00:24:21.275
  • The disgrace.
  • 00:24:21.275 --> 00:24:23.677
  • We really didn't want to be identified with him.
  • 00:24:23.677 --> 00:24:27.181
  • We didn't wanna say, "oh no, no, i'm with those people."
  • 00:24:27.181 --> 00:24:31.752
  • I'll stand for those values.
  • 00:24:31.752 --> 00:24:34.288
  • We've been quiet.
  • 00:24:34.288 --> 00:24:36.423
  • And if you're willing, the lord will put those places where you
  • 00:24:36.423 --> 00:24:39.894
  • Won't have to be obnoxious, you won't have to be weird,
  • 00:24:39.894 --> 00:24:41.662
  • You don't have to be belligerent.
  • 00:24:41.662 --> 00:24:43.030
  • You'll be able to, in a very quiet way, go, "no,
  • 00:24:43.030 --> 00:24:45.199
  • I'm for that.
  • 00:24:45.199 --> 00:24:47.768
  • I believe in that.
  • 00:24:47.768 --> 00:24:49.904
  • I don't think that is right.
  • 00:24:49.904 --> 00:24:53.007
  • I think you should be able to bring a biblical worldview into
  • 00:24:53.007 --> 00:24:55.309
  • The public square.
  • 00:24:55.309 --> 00:24:58.045
  • I don't believe that is a warp in my character at all.
  • 00:24:58.045 --> 00:25:03.517
  • And i'm grateful to be identified with those people."
  • 00:25:03.517 --> 00:25:07.121
  • If you'll open your heart to that, god will give you--and you
  • 00:25:07.121 --> 00:25:09.823
  • Can begin to rejoice, we can begin to rejoice.
  • 00:25:09.823 --> 00:25:12.259
  • I was counted worthy.
  • 00:25:12.259 --> 00:25:15.996
  • He said i was worthy, he was willing to be identified with me
  • 00:25:15.996 --> 00:25:18.732
  • In public if i'd be identified with him.
  • 00:25:18.732 --> 00:25:20.467
  • I'm in for some of that.
  • 00:25:20.467 --> 00:25:21.835
  • I'm in for some of that.
  • 00:25:23.103 --> 00:25:27.241
  • It's really a powerful principle.
  • 00:25:27.241 --> 00:25:28.943
  • It'll change your imagination, it'll galvanize you, it'll give
  • 00:25:28.943 --> 00:25:31.512
  • You courage and strength in the face of some real opposition.
  • 00:25:31.512 --> 00:25:35.549
  • The disciples didn't get it right.
  • 00:25:35.549 --> 00:25:38.085
  • It's already in their résumé.
  • 00:25:38.085 --> 00:25:39.453
  • They denied the lord, they hid when he needed a friend.
  • 00:25:39.453 --> 00:25:42.523
  • They weren't there for him.
  • 00:25:42.523 --> 00:25:44.925
  • On resurrection day, they weren't sitting outside the tomb
  • 00:25:44.925 --> 00:25:47.294
  • Cutting the celebratory cake.
  • 00:25:47.294 --> 00:25:50.130
  • There wasn't one of them cranking the crank on the
  • 00:25:50.130 --> 00:25:52.066
  • Homemade ice cream, "because jesus is about to bust out of
  • 00:25:52.066 --> 00:25:54.234
  • This place, we're gonna have a par-tay."
  • 00:25:54.234 --> 00:25:57.705
  • Well, they were locked in a room hiding afraid they were next.
  • 00:25:57.705 --> 00:26:01.642
  • And jesus had to come and find them and step into the room and
  • 00:26:01.642 --> 00:26:04.511
  • Show them the signs of his passion and say, "i'm back."
  • 00:26:04.511 --> 00:26:11.385
  • It wasn't that they got it right every time they were presented
  • 00:26:11.385 --> 00:26:15.022
  • With a challenge, but when the time came for them to step
  • 00:26:15.022 --> 00:26:18.792
  • Forward, they did.
  • 00:26:18.792 --> 00:26:21.295
  • Allen: you know, i used to believe that antisemitism was
  • 00:26:21.295 --> 00:26:23.464
  • A european problem or an issue in the islamic nations of the
  • 00:26:23.464 --> 00:26:27.234
  • World, but now we see it flourishing in our nation,
  • 00:26:27.234 --> 00:26:30.804
  • On elite college campuses, even amongst the political class,
  • 00:26:30.804 --> 00:26:34.541
  • And now on the conservative ideological spectrum.
  • 00:26:34.541 --> 00:26:38.545
  • It's troubling.
  • 00:26:38.545 --> 00:26:39.880
  • So i wrote a book, "supporting israel: how far is too far?"
  • 00:26:39.880 --> 00:26:43.817
  • You know, i know we've all got a little battle fatigue with the
  • 00:26:43.817 --> 00:26:46.487
  • Constant conflicts in the middle east and beyond,
  • 00:26:46.487 --> 00:26:49.356
  • But what we desperately need is a biblical perspective on how to
  • 00:26:49.356 --> 00:26:52.459
  • Navigate what's unfolding in our world,
  • 00:26:52.459 --> 00:26:55.396
  • And i believe the word of god gives that to us with clarity.
  • 00:26:55.396 --> 00:26:58.799
  • So we put this book together to help you find yourself in a
  • 00:26:58.799 --> 00:27:01.735
  • Place that will bring the blessings of god to your life.
  • 00:27:01.735 --> 00:27:04.905
  • I want to pray that we'll have his wisdom.
  • 00:27:04.905 --> 00:27:07.074
  • Father, you said when we lack wisdom,
  • 00:27:07.074 --> 00:27:08.442
  • We can ask and that you would give it to us without criticism.
  • 00:27:08.442 --> 00:27:11.512
  • We want to stand with you in what you're accomplishing in the
  • 00:27:11.512 --> 00:27:13.881
  • Earth so that your purposes can come forth.
  • 00:27:13.881 --> 00:27:16.817
  • Holy spirit, give us the discernment we need
  • 00:27:16.817 --> 00:27:19.219
  • In jesus's name, amen.
  • 00:27:19.219 --> 00:27:21.255
  • ♪♪♪
  • 00:27:21.255 --> 00:27:30.297